After this weekend’s surprising stunt by Banksy I thought it was time to take another look at his book: Banksy, Wall and Piece. (If you didn’t hear what happened, Banksy secretly rigged a shredder in the frame of one of his painting and triggered it immediately after it sold at an auction for 1.4 million dollars.) I’ve always been a fan of Banksy and am so lucky that I attended his amazing and memorable Existencilism show in 2002. Banksy, Wall and Piece covers much of his distinctive graffiti stencil work and other art roughly through 2006.
In this book are photos of his artwork that was sprayed on streets, walls, and bridges of cities throughout the world. Much of his work is political or social commentary that ranges in themes but are often anti-war or anti-authoritarianism. He also focuses on Existential problems facing average people - e.g. poverty, powerlessness, and alienation.
In addition to his art, he also directed a documentary film, Exit Through the Gift Shop, about street art.
Like him or hate him, Banksy is hard to dismiss. He will have a lasting impression on contemporary art for expanding where meaningful art can exist and also how an artist can connect with an audience by bringing the art to the streets and through social media.
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